January 06, 2007

Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) is
among the most famous Delta Blues musicians and arguably the most influential.
He is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Considered by some to be
the "Grandfather of Rock-and-Roll," his vocal phrasing, original
songs, and guitar style influenced a range of musicians, including Led
Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, U2, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton,
who called Johnson "the most important blues musician who ever
lived."

Of all the great blues musicians, Johnson was probably the
most obscure. All that is known of him for
certain is that he recorded 29
songs; he died young (murdered); and he was considered one of the greatest
bluesmen of the Mississippi Delta.

His guitar playing was so extraordinary that the tale is
told that he sold his soul to the Devil at the ‘crossroads’ in exchange for
mastery of the blues. The most popular location of that crossroads is the
junction of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. This tale is one that contributed to Highway 61 becoming known as 'The Blues Highway'.

Alan Greenburg wrote the play 'Love In Vain: A Vision of Robert Johnson'. Director Martin Scorsese wrote the foreword, and said, "The thing about Robert Johnson was that he only existed on his records. He was pure legend."